Pole cutting machine



May 25, 1943. c. w. SNANGER 2,320,056

POLE CUTTING MACHINE Filed Odt. a, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 1 7f Inventor' Ciar/es M waz 9r A tiomey May 25, 1943. c w SWANGER 2,320,056

IOLE CUTTING MACHlNE I Filed Oct. 8 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 k n m w Q Q Q m Q a I I I I [n vcnior Allornc May 25, 1943. c. w. SWANGER POLE CUTTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 8, 1940 5 Sheets-sheet 5 Q m In ventpr abar/es M d f A itorney May 25, 1943. c. w. SWANGER I POLE CUTTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 8, 1940 5 She ets-Sheet 4 lllnmllll nml lll mm imi Cfia r/ezs MSuMw Qr A iiorney c. w. SWANGER 2,320,056

. POLE CUTTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 8, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor Czar/e5 Mcywaw er A ttomey Patented May 25, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT DFFIQE POLE CUTTING MACHINE Charles W. Swanger, Texarkana, Tex., assignor of one-half to Charlie M. McMullan, Texarkana,

Ark.

3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in pole cutting machines for cross cutting grooves in telephone poles for the usual framing cross bars.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a machine of simple construction, which is adapted for high speed power operation to cut grooves of different depths and different widths in such poles and to bore the usual hole in the bottom of the grooves, all with a minimum expenditure of time and labor on the part of the operator.

Other, and subordinate objects, are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description is read in conjunction with the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrating the same applied to a pole,

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation,

Figure 3 is a view in top plan,

Figure 4 is a detail view in vertical section drawn to an enlarged scale and taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a detail view in transverse section taken on the line 6-4; of Figure 3,

Figure 7 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 'l-I of Figure 3 and drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 8 is a View in longitudinal section of the cutter unit drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 9 is a similar View illustrating the manner of adjusting the cutter unit to cut a wider groove,

Figure 10 is a view in transverse section taken tially rectangular main frame including a pair of laterally spaced, upright side bars l,'connected together in parallel relation by a top cross bar 2 and an intermediate cross bar 3, and adapted to be stood by base ends thereof upon a pole 4 in longitudinally spaced relation thereon to support thereover the mechanism presently described. The base ends of the side bars I are concave, as at 5, to fit approximately the curvature of the pole 4 so as to prevent the frame from slipping crosswise of the pole. Pairs of opposed handle bars I are provided on what constitutes the front faces of the side bars 1 at different levels for grasping by an operator to arrange the main frame upright on the pole 4 and manipulate the same over said pole.

A pair of carriage guide rails 6 are suitably secured to the inner faces of the side bars I, respectively, intermediate the base ends of the same and the bar 3, to extend crosswise of said bars I opposed parallel relation, said guide rails 6 being connected together at one end by a subjacent transverse cross bar I spaced from said rails 6 by spacing blocks 8 for a purpose presently seen, the bar I and blocks 8 being secured to said rails in any suitable manner.

Intermediate the guide rails 6 is a substantially rectangular cutter carriage 9 including a pair of side bars I0 and front and rear cross beams II and [2. The carriage 9 is mounted on the guide rails B for reciprocating movement endwise thereon and crosswise of the pole 4, at a suitable height from the pole, for a purpose Presently seen. The mounting for the carriage 9, as shown, comprises guides 13 on the carriage side bars Ill and guideways 14 in the guide rails 6. Preferably the guide rail I3 are supported by anti-friction rollers, not shown, in the guideways I4. The bechine, comprises, as its basic element, a substanforementioned spacing blocks 8 act as stops for limiting movement of the carriage 5.

Means are provided for reciprocating the cutter carriage 9 at will comprising a rock shaft I5 journalled in a pair of bearings It on the front faces of the side bars I, said shaft bein provided with a pair of crank arms [1 at opposite ends thereof, a pair of links l8 pivoted at ends thereof to said crank arms I1, respectively, as at 19, to extend rearwardly acros the outer faces of the side bars I and having the other ends thereof pivoted, as at 29, to a pair of post 22 arising from the rear ends of the side bars of carriage 9, and a hand lever 23 fast on one end of said rock shaft I5 for oscillating the same. A detent segment 24,.suitably mounted on'a fixed part of the main frame adjacent one side bar I, for engagement by the usual detent 25 on said lever 23 provides for adjustment of the cutter carriage 9 into different set positions under operation of said rock shaft by the lever.

A cutter unit 26, best shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, is provided on the cutter carriage 9 which will now be described in detail. Journalled at its opposite ends in the side bars ID of the carriage 9 is a transverse shaft 21 arranged to ex tend parallel with the pole 4 and adjacent what constitutes the front of said carriage. The shaft 21 embodies an intermediate squared portion 28, threaded portion 29 adjacent the portion 28, and a circular radial collar 39 in the center of the portion 23. A pair of rectangular cutter blade holders 3| with square bores 32 therein are sleeved on the squared portion 28 upon opposite sides of the collar 30, respectively. A pair of plate-like cutter blades 32 are provided upon opposite sides of each blade holder 3| and bolted fiat thereto, as by lag screws 33, with cutting edges projecting oppositely beyond the holder. The blades 32 on each blade holder 3! are arranged at right angles to the blades on the other holder and the blades of each pair overlap those of the other pair in the center of the unit for a purpose presently seen. A pair of disk type saws 34 are fitted on the shaft portions 28 in the same i'nanner as the blade holders 3| at c-pposite ends of said pair of holders. The saws 34 are peripherally notched, as at 35, so that the cutter blades 32 may be slipped past the same in replacing said blades and to provide for cutting clearance in operation. A pair of square washers, or shims, 36, of the same size as the blade holders 3| are fitted onto the shaft portions 28 against the outer sides of the saws 34, respectively. A pair of nuts 3'! threaded onto the shaft portions 29 clamp the saws 34 against the holders 3| and the latter against the collar 30.

As will now be apparent, th previously described cutter unit 26 provides for sawing the side wall of a groove across the pole 4 and the cutting blades 32 for cutting out the wood between said walls with a rotary chopping action and the width of the groove is determined by the distance between said saws 34. Also, the described components of the cutting unit 26 provide for variable assembly of the same to vary the width of the unit and consequently the width of the groove as follows. The washers, or shims, 33, and as shown in Figure 9, may be interposed between the collar 30 and the blade holders 3! to space the blade holders, together with the saws 34, further apart, than in the first described relation of the parts, and the nuts 31 may be opposed directly against the saws 34, whereby the overall length of the cutting unit is increased.

The described cutting unit 23 is driven by means of a motor 39 suitably secured to a shelf 49 extending across the rear end of the cutter carriage 9, the armature shaft 4! being operatively connected to the shaft 21 by means of a belt and pulley drive 42.

For varying the depth of the groove cut, a pair of elongated jacking plates 43 are provided for vertical sliding adjustment endwise alongside the outer sides of the side bars I, respectively, said plates having pole engaging ends concaved, as at 44. A pair of upper and lower guide brackets 45 suitably secured to each side bar I slidably mount said plates 43 on said bars. Pref erably the side edges of each plate 43 are recessed, as at 45, for coaction with the lower guide bracket 45 to limit vertical adjustment of the plates and the upper end of each plate i reduced, as at 47, for clearance purposes presently apparent.

A jacking rock shaft 48 extends transversely across the rear of the main frame and which is suitably journalled adjacent its opposite ends in bearings 49 on the rear sides of the side bars I, said shaft having end cranks 50 extended into suitable slots, as at 5|, in the upper ends of the jacking plates 43, the arrangement being such that rocking of said shaft will elevate and lower the main frame on said jacking plates. For rocking the jacking shaft 48, a hand lever 52 is provided on one end of the shaft and equipped with the usual detent 53 for coaction with a detent segment 54 fixed on a block 55 secured to one side bar I of the main frame.

As will now be understood, under operation of the hand lever 23 the cutter carriage 9 may be slid across the pole 4 to cause the cutter unit 26, under the drive of the motor 39, to cut a groove into the pole 4, and by operation of the hand lever 52, the jacking plates 43 may be thrust down against the pole 4 and the mail frame jacked up to different set position to predetermine the depth of the groove to be cut.

For boring a bolt hole in the center of each groove, a vertically disposed drill bit 56 is mounted in a chuck 51 depending from a motor 53 suitably mounted in a cross head 59 having end guide 69 vertically slidable in vertical slots Bl in the side bars I, respectively, whereby said drill may be elevated or lowered under similar adjustment of said cross head. For adjusting the cross head 59 at will, a transverse rock shaft 62 is journalled adjacent its opposite ends in a pair of bearings 63 fixed to the rear sides of the bars I, respectively, adjacent the upper ends of the latter. An upstanding hand lever 64 is fixed on one end of said shaft 62 and a pair of forwardly extending crank arms 65 are fixed upon opposite ends of said shaft 62, respectively, adjacent the outer sides of the bars I. A pair of links 66 pivoted, as at 61 t said crank arms 65, respectively, and to said guides 65, as at B3, operatively connect said arms to the cross head 59, A suitable latch bar 69 is pivoted as at 5, on the top cross bar 2 of the main frame to be swung into latching engagement with the hand lever 64 and thereby lock the lever in a position such that the cross head 59 and drill 53 are held elevated, the latter above the pole 4.

As will now be clear, under manipulation of the hand lever 54 in the proper direction, the cross head 59 may be lowered to lower the drill 56 against the pole 4 for operation by the motor 58 to bore the usual bolt hole, not shown, in the center of a previously cut groove.

At one side of the main frame, constituting the right hand side, is a grappling assembly for securing the main frame to the pole 4 in upright position. The grappling assembly is mounted on a short upright panel ll secured to the lower end of the right hand side bar I and laterall spaced therefrom by means of a connecting web 72 extending between the lower ends of said panel and bar. A concave roller '13 is suitably mounted in the lower end of said panel H to ride upon the pole 4 in crosswise position thereon and for a purpose presently seen. The grappling assembly proper comprises a pair of opposed tong members 14 adapted to straddle the pole 4 and having lower tooth ends 15 for biting into opposite sides of said pole, said members being pivoted adjacent the upper ends thereof, as at 16, to the panel II to depend therefrom. A cros head 11 is suitably mounted in guides 13 on the panel 1| for vertical sliding movement thereon. A pair of links "it pivoted to said cross head, as at 30, to depend therefrom and having lower ends pivoted, as at 8|, to the upper extremities of said members M, operatively connect the cross head 77 to said members 14 so that vertical movement of the cross head in opposite directions swings said members 74 into and from grappling engagement, respectively, with said pole A. For operating the cross head 11, a short shaft 82 is journalled adjacent its ends in the right hand frame bar I, and the panel H, and operatively connected to said head by a crank 83 on said shaft and a link 84 swingable on said crank and pivotally connected, as at 85, to the cross head H. An upstanding hand lever 86, having a detent 8'! thereon coacting with a detent sector 88 on the panel H provides for rocking aid shaft 82 to elevate and lower the cross head t different set positions so that the grappling assembly may be locked in different engaging and disengaging positions, as desired.

At the left hand side of the main frame is a gauge frame 89 of elongated, substantially rectangular form adapted to overlie the pole 4 to extend longitudinally along the same and including a pair of front and rear side bars 91 9|, having corresponding ends hinged, as at 92, to blocks 93 on the left hand side bar I, so that said gauge frame may be swung into idle upright position alongside the main frame. A cross bar 94 connects the other ends of said side bars 90, 9!. A cross brace structure as connects the hinged ends of the side bars 90, 9!. The rear side bar 9!, preferably, is provided with a scale 56 graduated in inches and fractions thereof. A transverse gauge bar 91 is slidably mounted at its ends on the bars Sill, 9|, to extend between the same and crosswise of the pole 4 and for sliding movement along said bars 98, 9|, into different set positions. Set screws 98 are provided on said gauge bar 9! for clamping the same to said bars 90, 9| into different set positions thereof. The gauge bar 91 is designed to fit, edgewise, into a groove cut into the pole and is provided with a central set screw, or stud, 99, for insertion into the bolt hole, not shown, bored into said groove.

As will now be clear, by setting the gauge bar 9'! along the gauge frame 89 to the proper position, as determined by the scale 96, said bar may I be positioned at variable distances from the cutter unit 26 so that after a groove is out in the pole 4, if the apparatus is shoved along the pole 4, as by means of the handle bars I, until the gauge bar 91 drops into the groove, the distance from said groove at which the next groove is to be but may be accurately established. The set screws 99 may be inserted in the previously bored bolt hole to firmly fix the position of the apparatus. The described roller 13 provides for easily shoving the apparatus along the pole 4, it being merely necessary in utilizing the same to tilt the main frame so that it rests entirely on said roller.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice t impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for cross grooving horizontally disposed poles comprising a main frame adapted to be moved along a pole into different set positions and comprising a pair of side bars adapted to be stood on end on said pole with said bars spaced apart lengthwise of the same, manipulative mean for securing said frame to the pole in the different set positions to hold the frame stationary, a carriage mounted in said frame for reciprocation transversely thereof to move the same crosswise of the pole, a motor driven cutter unit mounted on said carriage, manipulative means to reciprocate said carriage, and means on said frame for coaction with said pole to raise said frame into different positions to vary the depth of the cutting operation, said last means comprising a pair of jacking plates on said side bars, respectively, vertically slidable to thrust the same against said pole.

2. Apparatus for cross grooving horizontally disposed poles comprising a main frame adapted to be moved along a pole into different set positions and comprising a pair of side bars adapted to be stood on end on said pole with said bars spaced apart lengthwise of the same, manipulative means for securing said frame to the pole in the different set positions to hold the frame stationary, a carriage mounted in said frame for reciprocation transversely thereof to move the same crosswise of the pole, a motor driven outter unit mounted on said carriage, manipulative means to reciprocate said carriage, and means on said frame for coaction with said pole to raise said frame into different positions to vary the depth of the cutting operation, said last means comprising a pair of jacking plates on said side bars, respectively, vertically slidable to thrust the same against said pole, a crank shaft for sliding said plates, and manipulative means for rotating said shaft into different set positions.

3. Apparatus for cross grooving horizontally disposed poles comprising a main frame adapted to be moved along a pole into different set positions and comprising a pair of side bar adapted to he stood on end on said pole with said bars spaced apart lengthwise of the same, manipulative means for securing said frame to the pole in the different set positions to hold the frame stationary, a carriage mounted in said frame for reciprocation transversel thereof to move the same crosswise of the pole, a motor driven cutter unit mounted on said carriage, manipulative means to reciprocate said carriage, and means to establish the different set positions of said main frame comprising an auxiliary gage frame swingably mounted on the main frame for manipulation t interlock the same with one groove in the pole to thereby space the main frame and cutter unit from said groove, said gauge frame comprising a transverse interlocking gauge bar slidable into different set positions on the gauge frame.

CHARLES W. SWANGER. 

